The Pros and Cons of Neutering Your Dog

Neutering a male dog sterilizes him and makes him unable to have puppies. However, there are numerous health benefits from “the big snip at the vet’s”, with some of the biggest including decreased risks of certain prostrate diseases and testicular cancer.

De-sexing or castrating a dog is a simple surgical procedure where under anesthesia, the testicles are removed through an incision in front of the scrotum, and the incision is stitched up afterwards.

So should you neuter your pet? Before you do, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of neutering your dog.

Pros
A lot of pet owners all over the world are choosing to neuter their dogs. These are some of the advantages neutering has to offer.

• It reduces leg-lifting. Dogs will mark their territory by spraying it with urine, and the more territory they mark, the more impressive they will seem to other dogs. This means they will also do it all over your furniture.

• It also reduces the risk of your dog being attacked by other dogs, as intact dogs are often seen by other intact males as a potential rival for mates.

• Finally, neutering your pet minimizes the risk of the following conditions that would be more likely to occur in intact dogs: testicular cancer, perianal fistula, and prostate disorders.

Cons
However, neutering should not be seen as a silver bullet that can solve all problems. There are also some disadvantages that neutering can bring.

• Having your dog neutered makes him more likely to be obese. Because your dog is less active, that means your dog will burn less calories. Remember to check your pet’s diet regularly.

• While neutering decreases the risk of certain conditions, it also opens the door to increased risk of other conditions, such as hemangiosarcoma and hypothyroidism.

• Apart from the previously mentioned conditions, neutering can also lead to other complications post-surgery, from abscesses to allergic reactions to the anesthetic used.

• Neutering can cause severe growth impairment for your dog if not done at the right age. For instance, early neutering can cause the leg and hip bones to grow unevenly, and even make them four times as likely to get bone cancer.